Spinal Decompression and Spinal Disc Healing

In case you’ve never heard of it, spinal decompression is a relatively new treatment for pain and other symptoms caused by herniated and degenerated spinal discs.  I have been involved in providing spinal decompression in San Antonio, Texas for the past few years, and although it quickly is becoming more accepted, there still exists considerable doubt and controversy about the effects of this type of treatment.  Although many patients and doctors alike have been very pleased with the results of spinal decompression, some still think it is just an elaborate and expensive hoax.  

As with all treatments for spinal disc herniation and degeneration, spinal decompression is far from being a panacea.  It cannot be used on every patient and despite the fact that it does provide a statistically higher chance of getting good results than any other type of disc treatment available, it is not 100% effective. 

The fact that spinal decompression is not effective in every case, combined with the tremendous advertising hype that is sometimes used by the providers of spinal decompression services can lead to bitter disappointments for some patients.  I believe it is this disappointment that contributes to the tendency for some patients who did not get successful outcomes from decompression to express their negative feelings on internet forums and blogs. 

In fact, spinal decompression is highly effective for most patients who are treated with it for disc bulges and herniations and mild to moderate amounts of disc degeneration.  The overall success rate for spinal decompression is much better than for steroid injections in the spine and for disc surgery, and spinal decompression is quite a bit safer than either of these common forms of disc treatment.

I have heard some doctors express the opinion that spinal decompression merely “delays the inevitable” – that is, it only puts off the need for eventual surgery.  These doctors are under the impression that decompression is only a symptomatic treatment and that it does not make any change in the condition of the disc.  This is simply not true.

There is now considerable evidence in the form of pre and post spinal decompression treatment MRI scans that decompression does in fact make positive changes in the discs.  In the majority of cases of disc herniation, the amount of disc bulge is significantly decreased with a series of spinal decompression treatments.  This provides objective evidence of the claim that spinal decompression actually promotes disc healing, not just short-term symptom improvement.

Every patient is somewhat different, but my experiences in my San Antonio spinal decompression office have shown me that the majority of patients get lasting improvement, are able to resume normal activities, and are able to avoid disc surgery.  Most of the patients I have treated with spinal decompression are now enjoying life much more and have been very happy with their results.

To get a free report on spinal disc problems and the treatment options available for them, please visit the spinal decompression San Antonio website.